If you are looking for the best umbrella company in the UK, then you have come to the right place. We know that choosing the right umbrella company can prove to be extremely difficult as there are many umbrella companies in the market.
We are a specialist contractor portal and we very well understand which umbrella company is the best for contractors. To help you choose the right umbrella company, we have prepared a list of top 10 umbrella companies in the UK.
We recommend our team because they are the best umbrella companies when it comes to compliance, service quality, fees, competitive pay rates and professionalism. On our site, you will also be able to compare umbrella companies.
They are one of the best when it comes to providing umbrella company and payroll services to UK Contractors, IT Professionals, Locum Doctors, Nurses, Teachers and Social Workers.
Request a Call Back if you need any help in choosing an Umbrella Company and a specialist from our team will get in touch with you.
You will get all the information you need about umbrella company services on our website. From umbrella take-home pay calculators to blogs/guides/resources on umbrella payroll services and a lot more. You can read and write reviews for umbrella companies on our site and compare our umbrella companies with others using our comparison table.
Calculate your take-home pay with the help of our Umbrella PAYE Calculator
Compare and evaluate your current umbrella company's services by using our FREE umbrella company evaluation service.
It is important to note that the cheapest or the largest umbrella company might not be the best. It is important to put emphasis on what they are offering and how compliant they are. Cheap umbrella companies might compromise on certain aspects which could prove costly to you as temporary worker, at least from a tax perspective. What we mean to say is, cheapest umbrella companies can be the worst umbrella companies.
Please choose the umbrella company you want to work with very carefully. HMRC has deregistered many umbrella companies who they thought were involved in tax avoidance. Many umbrella companies are being investigated for tax abuse.
Here's our list of the best umbrella companies in the UK for 2024. These are highly trusted, award winning and recommended umbrella companies and payroll service providers in the UK:
Umbrella Company | Services & Benefits | Fee | Compliance | Reviews | Company Profile |
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Winners of Best Umbrella Company the Contracting Awards Salary Sacrifice Pension Contributions Fast and easy registration Same day payments Employee benefits 01206 591000 Contractor Umbrella Website |
£15 Per Week | FCSA Accredited SafeRec Certified |
Trustpilot: 4.3 Stars |
Get a free quote
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Dedicated Business Managers Effortless Onboarding and Same-day setup Same-day payment processing and advance payment options Full employment benefits and comprehensive insurance package Complete transparency: no sign-up or leaving fees, and we won’t tie you into a contract 0800 434 6446 SmartWork Umbrella Website |
£10 Per Week | FCSA Accredited APSCo Approved |
Trustpilot: 4.7 Stars |
Get a free quote
View Profile |
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Same day payments & wage advances available upon request Free subscription to DASA Rewards money-saving App All statutory entitlements including holiday, sick & maternity/ paternity pay 0207 118 0555 DASA Umbrella Website |
£10 Per Week | FCSA Accredited Professional Passport Approved |
Google: 4.7 Stars |
Get a free quote
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Professional Passport Accredited Payroll flexibility (weekly, bi-weekly, monthly) Free tax investigation consultation* through our sister company Templeton Brook Witt Free employment dispute advice* through our sister company Beaumont Swiss Contractor portal Outstanding customer service 0207 889 1000 Templeton Brook Website |
£19 Per Week | Professional Passport | Not on Trustpilot |
Get a free quote
View Profile |
Legal Disclaimer: ITContractorsUK.com cannot be held liable due to non performance or for any issues arising out of the Umbrella Companies on our list. This list includes our service partners/affiliates and you are required to do the complete due diligence before hiring/appointing any of them. Our experience with them has been very good and hence we are recommending them. But again, we do not accept any liability and due diligence is on the person appointing them.
We also have a dedicated web portal for umbrella companies. Please find the details below.
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A dedicated umbrella company website with over 100 umbrella companies List of our Trusted & Verified Umbrella Companies Read and Write reviews for umbrella companies Special offers for the site users |
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This page includes FCSA approved umbrella companies, professional passport approved umbrella companies as well companies that are members of APSCo. APSCo claims to be the only membership body dedicated to representing excellence in the professional recruitment industry. On the other hand FCSA claims to be the UK's leading membership body for compliant umbrella companies and CIS payroll providers.
Below is the list of umbrella companies in the UK with accreditation, approval, and certification from the likes of FCSA, Professional Passport and SafeRec. This list was last updated on 03rd May 2024.
Umbrella Company | Professional Passport Approved | FCSA Member | SafeRec Certified |
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Abacus Umbrella | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Pendragon Consultancy | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Adroit Payroll | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Numbermill | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Alpha Saint | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Brookson One | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
AmaanahPay | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Umbrellaphant Limited | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ |
Arch Finance | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Global Challenge Umbrella Services | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Azure Global | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Advance | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Big Fish Group | ✔ | ✕ | ✔ |
iConsult | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Bishopsgate | ✔ | ✔ | ✕ |
SSC Services | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Bonzai | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Umbrella.co.uk | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Bright Sky Contracting | ✔ | ✔ | ✕ |
Omnia | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Citadel Collective | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Eden Group | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Compass | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
The Indigo Group | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Competex Pro | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
NASA | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Contractor Bureau | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Orange Genie - Suspended | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Cool Company | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Exchequer Solutions | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Core Finance Management | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
SG Umbrella | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
DASA Umbrella | ✔ | ✔ | ✕ |
Rebus | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Dynasty Payroll Solutions | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
PAYME | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
ePayMe | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Sterling | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Exceed Outsourcing | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Black Diamond (A part of Danbro Group) | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
EZ PAYE | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Clipper Contracting Group | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Fair Pay Services | ✔ | ✔ | ✕ |
Carrington Umbrella | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Fruition Outsourcing Ltd | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Propaye | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Husp | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Granite BPO | ✔ | ✔ | ✕ |
Workwell Group | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
I-PAYE Ltd | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Smartwork | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
ForeTwo Group | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ |
Rocket PAYE | ✔ | ✕ | ✔ |
Navigate People | ✕ | ✕ | ✔ |
We Contracting Limited | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ |
IPS Umbrella Ltd | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
New Red Planet | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
JMK Umbrella | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Oasis Group | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Lesters | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Amaze Umbrella Ltd | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Mint | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Exact Payroll | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
AJ Rayson | ✔ | ✕ | ✔ |
Ellier | ✕ | ✕ | ✔ |
Compass Contracting | ✔ | ✕ | ✔ |
AGPayroll | ✕ | ✕ | ✔ |
Umbrella Company UK | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ |
Clockwork Contracting | ✕ | ✕ | ✔ |
Orbital Payroll Group | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
MyPay | ✔ | ✔ | ✕ |
Clarity Umbrella | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Odyssey Payroll | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Contractor Umbrella | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ |
Optimum Pay Group | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Stonebridge Payment Solutions Ltd | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Honest Payroll | ✕ | ✕ | ✔ |
Orbital Group | ✔ | ✔ | ✕ |
Ship Shape | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Ovations Umbrella Ltd | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ | Parasol | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
PAYBRELLA | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ | Mortimer Childe | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
People Group | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Giant Pay | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Pinnacle and Partners | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Plus Pay | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Churchill Knight Umbrella | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ |
Ricson Services LTD | ✔ | ✕ | ✔ |
Orca Pay Group | ✕ | ✕ | ✔ |
Quad Management | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Focused | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Quickstep Contracting Services | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Liquid Friday | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Ricson Services | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Granite BPO | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Rise Contracting Services Ltd | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Reddingtons Payroll | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Same Day Pay Umbrella | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Azebra Group Ltd | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Sandbeck | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Sapphire Contracting | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Social Work Employment Services | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Payments Pro | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Solucionis | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Trafalgar | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Swann Accountants Umbrella Services | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Paystream | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
TGI Payday | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Swift Employment | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
TJW Contract Solutions | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Quest Pay Solutions NE Ltd | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Trusted Employment Solutions | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Generate | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
TUS Umbrella | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
No Worries Umbrella | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
UC Contractors | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
NWM Umbrella | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Ultra Payroll | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
ICS Accounting | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Umbrella Zone | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Fair Pay Services | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Unicorn Development Solutions | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Crest Plus | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Universal Umbrella | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
JMK Group UK | ✕ | ✔ | ✕ |
Virtue Payroll Services | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Champion Contractors | ✕ | ✔ | ✔ |
Vision Payroll | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Well Pay | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
Westlakes Fusion | ✔ | ✕ | ✕ |
If there's any discrepancy in our list or for any changes/feedback, please write to us at [email protected] and our team will review it.
Visit our FCSA Accredited Umbrella Companies page for a complete and up-to-date list of umbrella companies accredited by the FCSA.
Visit our Professional Passport Approved Umbrella Companies page for a complete and up-to-date list of umbrella companies approved by Professional Passport.
Visit our SafeRec certified umbrella companies page for a complete and up-to-date list of umbrella companies certified by SafeRec.
You can also vist our FCSA vs Professional Passport comparison page.
Check out HMRC list of umbrella companies involved in tax avoidance schemes. You can also view the same on HMRC's official website.
Umbrella Company fee and pay illustration
Umbrella company fee or margin normally ranges from £9 - £35 per week. This would be deducted from your gross pay. Your payslip would show you as an employee of the umbrella company with details as listed below.
Expected or minimum gross rate of pay transferred to the intermediary or umbrella company from us: | |
Deductions from intermediary or umbrella income required by law: | Employers NIERS, Apprenticeship Levy, Pension (where applicable), Student Loan (where applicable), Court Order Deductions (where applicable) |
Any other deductions from umbrella income (to include amounts or how they are calculated) | Non-vatable umbrella margin of £9 per week Repayment of any funds paid in error (if applicable) Holiday Pay – Please see holiday entitlement |
Expected or minimum rate of pay to you: | As per contract of employment -Nothing less than National Minimum Wage as required by law. |
Deductions from your wage required by law: | Tax, National Insurance, Pension contribution (where applicable) |
Any other deductions or costs taken from your wage (to include amounts or how they are calculated: | None |
Any fees for goods or services: | None |
Holiday entitlement and pay: | You are entitled to 28 days holiday each financial year – advanced and paid at the same time as your salary. |
Additional benefits: | None |
Below is an example of umbrella pay illustration.
Example gross rate of pay to intermediary or umbrella company from us: | £592.00 (37hrs at £16 per hour) | |
Deductions from intermediary or umbrella income required by law: | Employers NIERS: £48.31 Apprenticeship Levy: £2.60 |
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Any other deductions or costs taken from intermediary or umbrella income: | Holiday Pay: £56.01 Pension (optional): £12.00 Umbrella Margin: £9.00 |
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Example rate of pay to you: | Basic Pay: £464.08 Holiday Pay: £56.01 |
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Deductions from your pay required by law: | Tax: £55.60 National Insurance: £40.33 Pension (optional): £16.00 |
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Any other deductions or costs taken from your pay: | None | |
Any fees for goods or services: | None | |
Example net take home pay: | £408.16 |
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How to register with an umbrella company?There are many other contractor umbrella companies in the UK. Since we haven't worked with them, we can't comment on their service quality or can't say how good they are. You can find their names in the list below. We also update the list on a regular basis (as often as every week).
So, how to differentiate between a good umbrella company and a bad one? Well, have a look at some of our top tips.
Probably this is the most important tip of all. Always ensure that the umbrella company you appoint is 100% HMRC compliant. It's easier said than done, purely because, there's no industry standard for umbrella companies. Don't sign up just because your umbrella company if offering you a more take home pay. There may be some hidden negatives.
Always use an umbrella company that offers 24/7 online portal, so you can upload/manage and submit your timesheets anytime and anywhere. Always avoid outsourced umbrella companies, they look fancy but they're always a BIG risk.
A good and reliable umbrella company should be taking care of your insurances, and it should be included in their fee. Insurances such as Professional Indemnity, Public Liability, Employers Liability may be required.
You shouldn't be paying any registration, setup or exit fees. If your umbrella company charges these fees, then you should reconsider using them.
Needless to say, do the math; compare umbrella company fee and service offering with other umbrella companies.
Umbrella company employs temporary workers who work on short-term contracts or assignments. They act as an intermediary between the worker and the end-client or the agency.
Umbrella company directly pays to the employee's bank account after deducting necessary taxes and contributions like PAYE and National Insurance contributions (NIC).
There are over 500 umbrella companies in the UK. The number is on the rise, and it is becoming increasingly difficult for contractors to find a fully compliant, and a reliable umbrella company.
Yes, absolutely. The use of umbrella companies is 100% legal in the UK. A large portion of contractor workforce in the UK use umbrella companies for their contracts.
There is no such thing called HMRC approved umbrella companies or pre-approved or government approved umbrella companies. If an umbrella company says that they are HMRC approved, don't fall for it, they are fake.
No. There is no government regulatory body for umbrella companies. There are membership bodies like FCSA, APSCo and Professional Passport, but there's no regulatory body.
Most umbrella companies are safe, but not all. Some indulge themselves in shady practices and try to lure contractors by promising them a higher take home pay. By using shady offshore schemes, they evade taxes, and in the end, contractors are penalised. Having said that, many umbrella companies are fully compliant and 100% reliable.
It is important to choose the right umbrella company. To find the best one, you need to do some due diligence. To begin with, run background checks on the company you are looking to appoint by going on the internet and reading online reviews. You should also post on Forums and use sites like LinkedIn and Reddit to seek other contractors’ opinion. Ask for a contract and read it in detail. Find out how much they charge and that there are no hidden costs. There should not be any leaving costs/penalties. Always cross-check with other umbrella companies and compare their services. This is how you find the best umbrella company.
There are many benefits of appointing an umbrella company. First and foremost, you don’t have to go through the hassle of setting up your limited company and managing it. This works best especially when your pay rate is low, your administrative burden is taken care of by the company and you can focus on your core work. Depending on the umbrella company you appoint, you may also be able to save more on tax and get benefits similar to that of an employee.
Yes. It is absolutely possible. All you have to do is make sure that all the money owed to you is paid by the umbrella company. Notify them about your decision, you would then get a P45 from them once everything is cleared. Once that is done, you are all good to setup your own Limited Company.
No. No agency or client can force you to use an umbrella company. Whether to use a limited company or an umbrella company totally depends on you.
There are 3. FCSA and Professional Passport provide umbrella accreditations and SafeRec has their umbrella certification.
There is no one particular umbrella company that you can call it as the best. The one that meets and exceeds your expectations should be considered the best.
If you need any help with choosing the best Umbrella Company, simply email to our us on [email protected], and we will immediately get in touch with you.